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Three Super Eagles Named in AFCON 2025 Best XI as Alex Iwobi Omission Sparks Debate

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11:24 am

Three Super Eagles Named in AFCON 2025 Best XI as Alex Iwobi Omission Sparks Debate

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Best XI has been officially released, with three Nigeria’s senior men’s national team stars earning deserved recognition after impressive displays at the tournament.

Nigeria, who finished third to claim the bronze medal, were represented in the Team of the Tournament by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey. The trio stood out for their quality, commitment, and match-winning contributions, playing key roles in Super Eagles’ strong AFCON campaign.

Their inclusion serves as fitting recognition for performances that consistently lifted the three time champions on Africa’s biggest stage.

However, the announcement has also sparked debate, with many fans and analysts struggling to understand CAF’s decision to overlook Alex Iwobi. The midfielder was one of Nigeria’s most influential players throughout the competition, dictating play, breaking lines, and providing creativity in midfield, making his absence from the Best XI a notable talking point.

As expected, the Best XI is dominated by the tournament’s top two teams. Champions Senegal lead the way with four players selected: Moussa Niakhaté, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, and captain Sadio Mané.

Runners-up Morocco also contributed four players to the elite lineup, namely Yassine Bounou, Noussair Mazraoui, Achraf Hakimi, and Brahim Díaz, reflecting their strong run to the final on home soil.

While the selection celebrates AFCON’s standout performers, the omission of Iwobi continues to fuel discussions, highlighting just how fine the margins can be when individual brilliance meets tournament recognition.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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